SHILLONG: After the successful implementation of the SPTS buses in the East Khasi Hills, the State Government has now decided to introduce ten buses, procured under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), in Jaintia Hills district.

Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh will formally flag off a fleet of swanky buses on February 18.

Announcement comes at concluding session of ITS seminar

The Union Urban Development Ministry will fund 80 per cent of the cost of preparing master plan/ detailed project report for intelligent transport system (ITS) in important cities across the country, including those in Karnataka.

New Delhi: Despite the presence of a strong public transport system, the capital has been witnessing a growth in the number of private vehicles. “We have introduced battery operated cars and bikes but unfortunately, people refuse to switch to other modes of transport,” said chief minister Sheila Dikshit. She was speaking at a session on regional efforts for sustainability at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit.

MUMBAI: For the first time ever, the state-run buses will be sporting fluorescent font indicators mentioning the destination and the bus numbers. This will enable passengers to see the route number and destination clearly in the dark. The installation of the new indicators is being outsourced through a private agency, which is already in the process of introducing them in 5,200 MSRTC buses this week. By April, the corporation plans to introduce the brand new fluorescent indicators in all its 17,000 buses across Maharashtra.

State-owned oil companies today snapped supplies of jet fuel to Air India for failing to honour payments even after 90-day credit period, but the ailing national carrier said it has paid Rs 180 crore andwould pay another Rs 40 crore by tomorrow. "I have spoken to the Petroleum Secretary not to disrupt (aviation turbine fuel) supplies and he has assured," Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi said.

NEW DELHI, 31 JAN: The CBI has registered two cases against unknown officials and private companies for allegedly causing a loss of over Rs 1,000 crore to the government exchequer by making false declarations in transportation of iron-ore and its end use. The cases were registered against unknown officials of ministry of railways and Central Excise of Haldia Commissionerate and two private companies ~ M/s Rashmi Cement Pvt Ltd, Jhargram and M/s Rashmi Metallic Pvt Ltd, Kharagpur ~ based in West Bengal, CBI officials said.

The Udhampur-Katra rail section will get operational by the year-end, providing a direct link to the pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine to the Katra base camp. While the Katra station is almost ready, work on the Udhampur-Katra line is under way and is expected to be commissioned by December, 2012, said the Adviser to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul, while chairing a meeting convened to review the progress of land acquisition cases under various state and centrally-sponsored development schemes here on Saturday.

In what may leave the Planning Commission red-faced, the Working Group set up by the Commission has shot down the planning body’s suggestion for a tariff regulatory authority in the inter-modal mix of transport. Expressing doubts on efficacy of the proposed regulator, the panel said there is “no rationale” in setting it up as it will have a limited mandate.

It Will Also Introduce Hand Held Ticketing Machines

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Services (AMTS) is going in for a makeover. No more a city bus service, the AMTS is being groomed to play a larger role — feeder bus service for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and also a means to encourage more passengers to choose public transport over personal vehicles.